Cubs’ Happ says winning is sole focus as he enters walk year

Posted March 10, 2026 3:06 pm

By Sahadev Sharma

Last season meant a lot for Ian Happ. The switch-hitting outfielder has spent his entire professional career with the Chicago Cubs and is entering his 10th season with the team. But 2025 marked his first postseason game since 2020 and the first time he experienced a Cubs win since 2017, a season in which he wasn’t a regular.

His massive three-run homer in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers gave him a real playoff moment, and now he enters a free-agent year with hopes of more playoff magic to come. Despite making it clear he loves Chicago and wants to be back, Happ won’t allow that to be a distraction.

“The focus is just so much on this group,” Happ said. “Both enjoying it and playing really good baseball together. It makes it a lot easier when you’re on a good team that’s going to compete that that can be the main focus.”

Happ said this team had high expectations coming into last season, so it’s not as if it’s a different mindset this spring. But a 92-win year, taking the Brewers to the brink in the NLDS and a strong offseason have the Cubs thinking they can compete with anyone, including the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers.

The last time Happ came into a walk year was three years ago. In April 2023, Happ signed a three-year extension that expires this fall. At the time, he was coming off a season that seemed like a turning point for the left fielder. He was finally getting consistent playing time; he settled into one position and went from an erratic defender to a Gold Glove winner. His offense seemed to find a groove, his strikeouts had dropped and he wasn’t hitting as many deep lulls at the plate.

The Cubs bet Happ’s improvement would last has paid off. He has four Gold Gloves, and his offense is a known commodity. He’s averaged a 119 wRC+ over the last four seasons and has put up a bWAR of 4.3, 3.5, 3.9 and 4.0.

“It’s way different,” Happ said of the feeling heading into a potential walk year this time. “Where you’re at in your career, having had some consistency, having already been paid (essentially) as a free agent is much more comforting. You’re at a different point of your career and life, so it’s a much different experience.”

Will Happ approach the front office about an extension this spring?

“It’s hard because they’re focused on this year and winning as well,” he said. “If their mind isn’t in that place — I want their focus to be on winning this year, and my focus to be on winning this year. So let’s do that.”

The Cubs are a pretty model-heavy front office. Meaning they rarely stray far from how a model values a player. They also have pending free agents in Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon. Hoerner is an elite defender at a premium position. Suzuki is beginning to show he’s tapping into some impressive power. Teams are always looking for pitching. Does investing in the age-32 season and beyond for a left fielder make sense for this front office? And if it does, would Happ be a priority above those other players?

“That’s their job, right?” Happ said. “To figure out what are the things that are valued and how does that equate. My job is to be the best player I can be. You can’t think about what the model is going to spit out on you. You have to play and impact winning, impact the organization.”

If this is his last season in Chicago, Happ will definitely do everything he can to soak in all the moments that might come. This is the only organization he has known in his professional career. This is the city where he met his wife, became an All-Star and calls home. Many of the biggest moments of his adult life are tied to Chicago.

He said he plans to be “present” for the fans, the city and most of all, his teammates. And if this is his final season with the Cubs, he’ll always be connected to Chicago.

“Either way, I’ll be tied emotionally to this city for a number of reasons,” Happ said. “I find a lot of comfort in 10 seasons (with the Cubs) and the time I’ve spent here. Through different groups of players, different levels of success. Being a Cub for that long is super special. I’ll always have a place here in the city. Getting to that point is pretty cool.

“I will be back in Chicago. No matter where I am next season, I will be back in Chicago. But enjoying it now in this moment is important to me. Having it happen with guys you love and want to compete with makes it a lot easier.”